Get to know JYU’s student well-being specialists!

At JYU, we work continuously to support and develop the well-being of students. Read more about our student well-being specialists in this article!
Published
12.10.2024

Student well-being specialist Hanna Ahola

Hi there, I’m Hanna and I work as the student well-being specialist at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥. In my work I meet students who need support in individual and specific questions concerning study well-being. My areas of expertise include, for example,

  • challenges related to executive functions
  • life management, career planning, and working life issues
  • challenges related to stress, coping and time management.

I also act as the contact person for substance abuse issues. I’m actively involved in supporting the invidual study arrangements of the students, and I act as an expert for the student health meetings. In addition to offering guidance and counselling, I teach students wellness skills and train the staff in higher education institutions on topics related to supporting ability to study. Additionally, I’m in charge of the activities of the Goodies at our University.

My family consists of my husband, two children and two dogs. In my free time, I enjoy doing sports and various dog activities. Our youngest member of the family, Hippo, a Labrador retriever, makes sure there are activities both at home and outside, so my free time is sometimes quite busy.

University Teacher (PsM) Panajiota Räsänen

Hello! My name is Panajiota. I offer support to students who are struggling with issues such as motivation, study stress or time management.

I can help, if you are experiencing for example

  • performance anxiety
  • loneliness
  • difficult feelings about your studies.

You are not alone!

I'm also responsible for the Student Compass mental wellbeing programme, which offers low-threshold support for students. In my spare time, I love spending time with my loved ones, trying new recipes in the kitchen, going for long walks and reading a lot about health, nutrition and wellbeing.

Yliopiston opiskeluhyvinvoinnin asiantuntijat Hanna Ahola ja Panajiota Räsänen.
Student well-being specialists Hanna Ahola and Panajiota Räsänen.

Student Well-being Specialist Riitta-Leena Metsäpelto

I'm Riitta-Leena and I work as a student well-being expert in the Student Life team. Together with other team members, we offer a wide range of services and support to make it easier and more comfortable for students to study at our university.

I provide support for students with a variety of wellbeing-related problems and challenges related to their learning ability.

These include: 

  • mental wellbeing difficulties such as anxiety and depression
  • problems with motivation
  • social challenges such as social anxiety.

I also help students with executive function challenges, for example by supporting time management and study skills and lifestyle choices. I'm also the contact person for issues related to bullying and harassment.

My family includes a spouse and two adult children. In my spare time I enjoy exercising. In the summertime, my family and I enjoy caravan trips, which are a nice combination of touring around Finland and beyond, as well as walking and cycling in the countryside.

Student Well-being Specialist Heta Orrain

Hello! I'm Heta and I work as a student well-being specialist. My background is as a teacher and teacher of special needs.

I can help you with issues such as:

  • academic study skills
  • reading tests and assessments
  • foreign language learning difficulties
  • concentration
  • getting stuck with studies or returning to studies after a long break
  • identifying your own skills
  • individual study arrangements.

My family includes my husband and three school-age children. In my spare time, I am largely responsible for the logistics of my children's hobbies, consuming audio books at the wheel of a car, and knitting socks. I also keep myself active in a variety of ways, from Zumba to kettlebell classes. I also like gardening, I love flowers and my favourite place in the world is my own cottage on Lake Päijänne.

Yliopiston opiskeluhyvinvoinnin asiantuntijat Heta Orrain ja Riitta-Leena Mäkipelto.
Student well-being specialist Heta Orrain and Riitta-Leena Metsäpelto.

Other support

In addition to Hanna, Panajiota, Riitta-Leena and Heta, there are many different people at the University who work to support the well-being and study ability of the students.

Goodies

The student well-being advisers (the goodies) are university employees and have been trained in supporting the well-being of students. They offer you support in matters related to student well-being and help you proactively get help throughout your education path. The goodies also know how to refer you to the services of Hanna, Panajiota, Riitta-Leena or Heta if necessary.

University Chaplain

The University Chaplain provides support to everyone, regardless of their worldview, and with the University Chaplain you can discuss anything and everything you can think of. The areas of expertise include, for example, questions concerning coping, anxiety, relationships, values, meaning of life and religious life.

For the contact details of Student Life experts and operators, go to the University’s website: